Locking system for foldable crates

ABSTRACT

This invention is related with the locking system which provides foldable crates&#39; edges are locked to eachother and characterized with having main elements as; 
         male part ( 4 ) composing base ( 6 ), edge ( 7 ), space (indent) ( 1 0), edge and size connection ( 11 ), and pressing part ( 12 ) to unlock, located on one of the edges ( 2  or  3 ) of the crate ( 1 ),    female part ( 5 ) composing edge ( 8 ) and ledge ( 9 ) located on the other edge ( 2  or  3 ) of the crate ( 1 ),    centralization ledges ( 15 ) located under or on or both sides of male part ( 4 ),    centralization indents ( 14 ) located under or on or boths sides of female part ( 14 ).

RELATED FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is related with the locking system which provides foldable crates' edges are locked to eachother.

FORMER TECHNIQUE

This subject matter of invention, locks manufactured in respect of the prior art in order to fix edges on foldable crates, provides locking usually with solid penetration method, opens with a hard hit on the edge. During carrying or placing, in case of a hit of crate to somewhere, lock may open and material in the crate is spilled. In these kind of locking systems, solid penetration providing parts cannot perform locking function due to worning off in the course of time. Consequently, crate cannot be used for desired purpose.

Related to the locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention, a search has been performed in UK patent Office with the service number SAS/P201391 and additionally another search has been performed in Austrian Patent Office for patentability and the following documents have been determined.

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,516 B1,     -   U.S. Pat. No. 2003/0116564 A1,     -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,790,     -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,349 A1,     -   DE 2546636 A1, and     -   DE 19511655 A1

In the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,516 B1 a foldable crate of which at least two sides are folded has been disclosed. In the crate disclosed in this document the folded sides of the crate are locked to the other sides. In this document an L shaped locking element is disclosed. In this system there is no centralization features.

In the document U.S. 2003/0116564 A1 a foldable crate has been disclosed. In the crate disclosed in this document the folded sides of the crate are locked to the other sides. In this system there is no centralization features.

In the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,790 a foldable crate of which the sides are folded inside has been disclosed. The sides folded inside are locked by the locking elements which are passing inside part of the other sides. The locking system disclosed in this document doesn't contain centralization elements.

In the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,349 A1 a foldable and reusable box made of cardboard has been disclosed. Male and female locking elements are disclosed for the box disclosed in this document. The locking system disclosed in this document doesn't contain centralization elements.

In the document DE 2546636 A1 an hinge system which can be locked has been disclosed. The locking system disclosed in this document doesn't contain centralization elements.

In the document DE 19511655 A1 an electric connection element which can be locked by a metalic piece has been disclosed. The locking system disclosed in this document doesn't contain centralization elements.

PURPOSES OF DEVELOPING THE INVENTION

In developing locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention,

-   -   providing easy locking,     -   providing not to be opened after locked, under weight or during         carrying,     -   providing to open easily by hand when needed are aimed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to describe locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention better, drawn up figures are attached. Description of the figures are below.

FIG. 1—Perspective view of foldable crate and locking system

FIG. 2—Perspective view of foldable crate (locked appearance)

FIG. 3—Cross section view of locking system

FIG. 4—Inner perspective view of locking system ( unlocked appearance)

FIG. 5—Outer perspective view of locking system (unlocked appearance)

FIG. 6—Inner perspective view of locking system ( locked appearance)

FIG. 7—Side view of locking system (motion appearance of short edge)

FIG. 8—Cross section view of locking system (motion appearance of short edge)

FIG. 9—Outer picture view of locking system (unlocked appearance)

FIG. 10—Inner picture view of locking system (unlocked appearance)

DESCRIPTION OF ITEMS—PARTS—COMPONENTS

In order to describe locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention better, parts (items) forming components are numbered separately. Definitions of the numbers shown in attached figures are as follows:

-   1—Foldable crate -   2—Long edge -   3—Short edge -   4—Male part of locking system -   5—Female part of locking system -   6—Male part base -   7—Male part edge -   8—Female part edge -   9—Female part ledge -   10—Male part space (indent) -   11—Male part edge and base connection -   12—Press point to open lock -   13—Finger -   14—Centralization indent (hole - space) -   15—Centralization ledge -   16—Male part ledge -   17—Female part indent

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Main components (elements) of locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention compose;

-   -   male parts, preferably near two sides (2 or 3) of one of the         foldable edges (4),     -   female parts on the other edge (5), counter to male parts (4),     -   centralization ledges (15) located on one of the foldable edges         (2 or 3), preferably both sides of male parts,     -   centralization indents (14) located on the other edge opposing         to centralization ledges (15).

Centralization indents (14) can either be in a square or rectangular prism or cylinderic or half sphere form. Centralization indents (14) can locate either on the short edge (3) or the long edge(2).

Centralization ledges (15) can either be in a square or rectangular prism or cylinderic or half sphere form in order to fit in the centralization indents. Centralization ledges (15) can locate either on the long edge (3) or the short edge (2).

Centralization ledges (15) can locate either on both sides of male parts (4) or female parts (5). One of the centralization ledges (15) can locate on one side of male part (4), the other one can locate on the other side of female part (5). Centralization indents (14) are located opposite to centralization ledges (15).

Main function of centralization indents (14) and ledges (15) is to provide male (4) and female (5) part of the lock encounter during locking and unlocking. Thus, locking and unlocking process will be easy.

Another function of centralization indents (14) and ledges (15) is to meet the load and prevent the lock from forcing, when edges are loaded after locking, during carrying or warehousing.

Male part (4) of the locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention compose;

-   -   base (6),     -   edge (7),     -   space (indent) (10),     -   edge and side connection (11), and     -   pressing part to unlock (12).

Base (6) and edge (7) of the male part (4) combine at the edge and side connection (11). Combination at connection (11) can either be vertical edged, or convex or concave form in order to provide strengthening.

There is space (indent) (10) on both edges (7) of the male part (4). Space (10) provides locking after fitting in the ledge (9) of female part (5).

In front of male part (4) (facing the female part), there is a pressing part (12) to unlock. When pressed with a finger to pressing part (12), side edges (7) of male part (4) stretches and moves space (indent) (10) inside. Thus, ledge (9) of female part (5) rescue from space (10) and consequently lock is opened.

Female parts (5) of locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention compose,

-   -   female part edge (8) and     -   female part ledge (9).

Female part (5) edge (8) ledge (9), provides locking by fitting in the space (10) on the male part (4) edge(7).

Centralization ledges (15) and indents (14) which helps locking, provides locking to be easy, prevent crate edges from stretching against loads during transportation and warehousing, and meets the load on the lock and thus prevents the lock from undesirable openings. These indents (14) and ledges (15) prevents the lock from attrition and extends life-span at the same time.

PREFERED APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

Male parts (4) of locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention are located on two sides of the long edge (2) of the crate (1), preferably somewhere close close to the upper part. Female parts (5) are on the short side (3) of the crate (1) located exact opposite of the male parts.

Centralization ledges (15) are located on and under the male parts (4). Centralization indents (14) are located on the short side (3) of the crate (1), exact opposite of the ledges (15).

DIFFERENT APPLICATION FORMS OF THE INVENTION

Locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention can be applied in foldable crates (1) with different combination forms; where,

-   -   male parts (4) are located on both sides of the short edge (3)         of the crate (1); female parts (5) on the other one which is the         long edge (2);     -   centralization ledges (15) are under and on the female parts         (5),     -   one of the centralization ledges (15) is under the male part         (4), the other one is on the female part (5);     -   one of the centralization ledges (15) is on the male part (4),         the other one is under the female part (5).

Crates, on which locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention is applied, preferably are manufactured from polymer or polymer mixed plastic-based material and can be in any size.

During an application of locking system for foldable crates developed with this invention, locking can be provided by fitting male part ledge (16) into the female part ledge (17). This application is in the scope of the invention. 

1. Locking system for foldable crates characterized with having main elements as; male part (4) composing base (6), edge (7), space (indent) (10), edge and size connection (11), and pressing part (12) to unlock, located on one of the edges (2 or 3) of the crate (1), female part (5) composing edge (8) and ledge (9) located on the other edge (2 or 3) of the crate (1), centralization ledges (15) located under or on or both sides of male part (4), centralization indents (14) located under or on or boths sides of female part (14), and when pressed with a finger to pressing part (12), side edges (7) of male part (4) stretches and moves space (indent) (10) inside, thus, ledge (9) of female part (5) rescue from space (10) and consequently lock is opened.
 2. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in claim 1, and characterized with square or rectangular prism formed centralization indents (14) thereof.
 3. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in claim 1, and characterized with cylinderic or half sphere formed centralization indents (14) thereof.
 4. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with centralization indents (14) locating on the short edges (3) thereof.
 5. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with centralization indents (14) locating on the long edges (2) thereof.
 6. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with square or rectangular prism formed centralization ledges (15) fitting into centralization indents thereof.
 7. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with cylinderic or half sphere formed centralization ledges (15) fitting into centralization indents therof.
 8. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with centralization ledges (15) locating on the long edge (2) thereof.
 9. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with centralization ledges (15) locating on the short edge (3) thereof.
 10. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with centralization ledges (15) locating on each side of male parts (4) thereof.
 11. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed iny any one of the above claims and characterized with centralization ledges (15) locating on each side of female parts (5) thereof.
 12. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with one of centralization ledges (15) locating on one side of male part (4), the other one locating on the other side of female part (5) thereof.
 13. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with combination of connection of base (6) and edge (7) of the male part (4) should either be vertical edged, or convex or concave form in order to provide strengthening thereof.
 14. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with space (indent) (10) locating on each edge (7) of male part (4) thereof.
 15. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with female part (5) ledge (9) fitting in the spaces (indents) (10) on both edges (7) of male part (4) thereof.
 16. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with a pressing part (12) locating in front of male part (4) (facing the female part) to unlock.
 17. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with applied crates (1), preferably are manufactured from polymer or polymer mixed plastic-based material thereof.
 18. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with applied crates (1) can be in any size thereof.
 19. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with male part (4) ledges (16) on two edges (7) provides locking by fitting into female part (5) indents (17) thereof.
 20. Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any one of the above claims and characterized with any one of the sides of male part (4) or the female part (5) is flat. 